Toothbrush Care

Brushing your teeth plays an important everyday role for personal oral hygiene and effective plaque removal. You may not give much thought to cleaning your toothbrush; however appropriate toothbrush care and maintenance are important considerations for oral hygiene. At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, we want you to know how and when to replace, clean, and store your toothbrush.

The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush approximately every three to four months or sooner if bristles are frayed. However, toothbrushes will wear out more rapidly depending on factors unique to each patient. It is also important to never share a toothbrush because this practice could be a concern for people with compromised immune systems or existing infectious diseases. If your toothbrush comes in contact with another, thoroughly rinse the brush with warm tap water to remove any remaining toothbrush and debris. When you are done using the toothbrush, store it in an upright position and allow the toothbrush to air-dry until used again.

If you have further questions regarding toothbrush care, give us a call. For more information about the services we provide at the office, visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call 215-279-1193.

Ear Aches after Teeth Extraction

At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, we want patients to know that extractions are done for a number of reasons. You may have a tooth that is badly damaged to the point of decay or you may need an orthodontic appliance such as braces and your mouth is too overcrowded to place them. The most common type of extraction is wisdom teeth removal, but no matter which type of extraction you need to encounter, there will be a type of pain you need to prepare for.

Pain that seems to originate in your ear after having a tooth extracted is not unusual. The most likely cause of the ear pain after wisdom teeth removal is that there are many nerves in and around your teeth and jaw which send signals through your head and past your ears. Because you have trauma in the area of the tooth extraction, it is normal for the nerves to send pain signals to your brain. Ear pain is often caused by the patient biting down with force on something. This is one of the reasons why you are instructed to eat soft foods in the days immediately following a tooth removal. Despite ear pain being a common problem, if the pain becomes severe or gets worse than normal you should contact us to ensure the pain is not caused by something else like an infection.

If you have questions about extractions, don’t hesitate to give us a call. For more information about the services we provide at the office, visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call 215-279-1193.

What are Wisdom Teeth For?

As you begin to enter adulthood, your wisdom teeth make their presence known in the far reaches of your mouth. Wisdom teeth – officially the third molars – are the last set of teeth to come in, usually between 17 and 25 years of age. The reason we have them lies in the mouths of our ancestors because early humans needed an extra row of teeth to chew their food: a diet of uncooked, hard items. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and will need to be removed by one of our dentists at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center.

When wisdom teeth are misaligned, they may position themselves horizontally, be angled toward or away from the second molars, or be angled inward or outward. When these teeth are poorly aligned, they can crowd or damage adjacent (healthy) teeth, the jawbone, or nerves. It’s important to know that just because your wisdom teeth aren’t causing you pain doesn’t mean there isn’t anything wrong. At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, your dentist will look at the shape of your mouth and the position of your teeth to make a decision on whether or not they need to be extracted.

If you wish to inquire about wisdom tooth extractions, give us a call. For more information about the services we provide at the office, visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call 215-279-1193.

Dental Bridges

Missing teeth need replacements for the health of your mouth, the ability to chew, speak, and much more. One of the popular options we have here at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA is the dental bridge.

A bridge works by using the two teeth adjacent to the open space to fit a new tooth in between them. There are also bridges available for when a tooth only has one adjacent tooth because it is missing on the end of your upper or lower set of teeth.

To place a bridge, first, we prepare the two adjacent teeth so that crowns can fit on top of them. This involves reshaping them. We then take impressions so a dental laboratory can create the bridge. The bridge itself consists of the two crowns with a full replacement tooth in the middle, called a pontic. The patient will wear a temporary bridge while the permanent bridge is being created. A couple of weeks later, the custom bridge is bonded into place. The patient now has a natural-looking and durable solution for a missing tooth.

Replacing missing teeth helps keep good speech, chewing ability, and a sturdy jawline. It also helps you flash your best smile!

If you want to learn more about dental bridges, contact Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center by giving our Philadelphia, PA office a call or visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. 

Dental Sealants for Cavity Protection

Cavities are no fun to get filled and they are not good for your dental health in the first place. During a certain age group, cavities can become prevalent. This is why here at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, we are able to provide patients with dental sealants. They are great cavity prevention for kids or adults.

Dental sealants are placed on the chewing surfaces of molars to block out bacteria and debris from the deep grooves. The sealant is a liquid plastic material that is hardened with a curing light. Sealants are great for kids between the ages of six to fourteen, also known as the cavity-prone years. Adults may also benefit from sealants if they have not had any cavities or fillings in their molars. Sealants can last for up to ten years or longer.

To place sealants, the teeth are first cleaned and dried. An acidic solution is then placed on the teeth to roughen up the surface. This aids a strong bond between the sealant and the tooth. The acidic solution is rinsed off, the teeth are again dried, and the sealant is painted onto the surfaces. A curing light is then applied for hardening. The patients can use their teeth normally shortly afterward.

Sealants provide that extra protection for teeth that need it. To schedule your appointment with Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call our office at (215) 279-1193 or visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. 

When a Dental Implant Fails

Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. In fact, they are one of the most reliable long-term methods of tooth replacement. However, as with any other surgical procedure, there are a variety of internal and external factors that cause complications or even total failure of treatment. If this ever were to happen to you, our doctors at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center are here to assess the situation.

Osseointegration describes the formation of a direct functional and structural connection between a person’s bone and an artificial implant. There are two primary reasons for “later” implant failure after the osseointegration process has been successful. These include over-stressing implants with too much biting force or inflammatory disease of the gum tissues and/or bone around the implant. Prevention plays a tremendous role in avoiding implant failure. Once the implants are placed, it’s crucial to maintain a good oral hygiene routine. Make sure you schedule regular dental cleanings to help keep the tissues around your implants healthy.

If you have questions about dental implants, please give us a call. For more information about the services we provide at the office, visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call 215-279-1193.

The Temporomandibular Joint: Explained

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the jaw joint. You have two of them which work together as a pair, one in front of each ear. Without this joint, you would not be able to chew your food, yawn, or even speak. The joints connect the lower jaw bone (mandible) to the temporal bones of the skull on each side of the head. When this joint begins to cause facial pain, headaches, and/or jaw muscle stiffness, our doctors at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center can develop a treatment plan.

When you open your mouth, the rounded upper ends of the mandible on each side of the jaw glide along the joint socket at the base of the skull. They slide back to their original position when you close your mouth. This joint is unique in the sense that the articular surfaces of the bones never actually come in contact with one another – they are separated by an articular disk. This disk splits the joint into two synovial joint cavities, each lined by a synovial membrane. It is important to keep in mind that occasional clicking or discomfort in the jaw joint or chewing muscles is common, but if you have a serious concern for TMD, you should schedule a consultation with our doctors.

If you have questions about the temporomandibular joint or TMJ/TMD, please give us a call. For more information about the services we provide at the office, visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call 215-279-1193.